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{Nd-Model.) I V 1 W. P. BENNETT THILL COUPLING. No. 553,218. Patented Jan. 14, 1896 WITNESSES. [NYE/V1071? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILL F. BENNETT, OF ADAMSBOROUGI-I, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PARKER A. FAIR, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No} 553,218, dated January 14, 1896. Application filed September 9, 1895. Serial No. 561,986. (No model.)

T at whom/ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILL F. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Adamsborough, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Oouplings and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to thill-couplings for vehicles, and its object is to provide an improved construction of the same which will enable the shafts to readily be connected and disconnected without removing any bolts, and which will also prevent rattling.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a thill coupling constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the thill detached.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates a clip adapted to embrace a vehicle-axle, provided with a bottom plate 2, which is held in place by bolts 3. The clip is formed with forwardly-projecting lugs 41, formed with opposite openings for the passage of a bolt 5. The numeral 6 designates a shackle, formed at its rear end with a curved lug 7, adapted to engage with said bolt, a curved lug 8 at its forward end and two downwardly-depending curved arms 9.

The numeral 10 designates a thill-iron, se-

cured at its front end to a shaft, and having its rear end bent into a loop, which engages with a rod or bolt 12, passing through apertures in the arm 9.

The numeral 13 designates a spring consisting of a metal plate having its rear end curved, forming an ear 14., which bears against the bolt 5 when the thill is connected with the clip. In front of this car the plate is bent into a loop 15, which engages with a pin or bolt 16, passing through apertures in the ends of the arms 9. The front end of this spring is bent over forming a rearwardly-extending spring-arm 17, which bears against the under side of the thill-iron.

The operation is as follows: The thill-iron 5 5 is connected with the bolt of the shackle by engaging its loop therewith, and against the end of the front lug of the shackle. The spring is then connected with the bolt at the lower end of the shackle so that the arm 17 will bear against the under side of the thilliron. By pressing the front end of the spring toward the thill-iron the rear end thereof will be forced outward, the pin or bolt serving as a pivot so that the curved rear end of means the thill can be readily connected with and disconnected from the clip, and rattling is also prevented.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- In a thill coupling, the combination with the clip, having forwardly projecting lugs and a bolt passing therethrough, the shackle comprising the front and rear curved lugs, and the downwardly depending arms and the bolts passing therethrough of the thill iron connected with one of said bolts and the spring pivoted to the other bolt and having one end bearing against the said clip bolt and the other end bent backward forming an arm which bears against the thill iron; sub- 8 5 V stantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILL F. BENNETT. Witnesses:

PARKER A. FAIR, DE WITT O. JUsTIoE. 

